Komen: Planned Parenthood Doesn’t Do Mammograms With Grants

In new emails Susan G. Komen for the Cure is sending to people complaining about their grants to the Planned Parenthood abortion business, officials claim the grants are given to help women obtain breast cancer screenings. Yet, Komen also admits Planned Parenthood doesn’t do mammograms.

Last year, Komen spokesman John Hammarley confirmed 20 of Komen’s 122 affiliates have made donations to Planned Parenthood and, in 2009, those contributions totaled $731,303. He also confirmed Komen affiliates contributed about $3.3 million to the abortion business from 2004-2009.

In a new form letter to one pro-life person who complained about the grants, obtained by LifeNews.com, Komen explains the donations, but says 19 affiliates have donated.

“Thanks very much for writing to share your concern with us. Recent questions have arisen regarding a limited number of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® community grants to Planned Parenthood breast health programs, specifically those designed to provide screening mammograms for vulnerable populations, e.g., low-income and uninsured women,” Komen says. “Currently, 19 Komen for the Cure Affiliates award 19 local grants specifically to Planned Parenthood-sponsored programs in their communities to pay for breast cancer education and breast screenings.”

Live Action released videotaped footage of calls to 30 Planned Parenthood centers nationwide in 27 different states where abortion facility staff were asked whether or not mammograms could be performed on site. Every one of the Planned Parenthood centers admitted they could not do mammograms. Every Planned Parenthood, without exception, tells the women calling that they will have to go elsewhere for a mammogram, and many clinics admit that no Planned Parenthood clinics provide this breast cancer screening procedure.

In its email to people concerned about the Komen-Planned Parenthood connection, a Komen official admits Planned Parenthood doesn’t provide mammograms for women with its grant money. Komen makes it clear the money is merely funneled through the abortion business to legitimate medical centers that actually perform mammograms.

“When a mammogram is indicated, a patient is often referred to a local program, such as the state’s breast and cervical cancer program. In other cases, the Komen Affiliate’s grant to Planned Parenthood may include funds to pay for mammograms outright. When this happens, a local provider performs the mammogram, and is then reimbursed by Planned Parenthood using the Komen grant funds,” Komen admits.

David Schmidt of Live Action responded to the comments in the new letter from Komen.

“It appears that Komen is getting more inquiries about their affiliation with top US abortion provider Planned Parenthood,” he said. “Notice how Komen plays down their donations to Planned Parenthood by saying a “limited number” of Komen grants have gone to Planned Parenthood.”

He wondered why Komen would give grants to Planned Parenthood rather than legitimate medical centers when the abortion business doesn’t actually help women with mammograms.

“Planned Parenthood doesn’t do mammograms themselves. Why then is Komen giving grants to Planned Parenthood to then in turn pay non-Planned Parenthood health centers to provide mammograms? Why not grant funds directly to the centers performing mammograms?” he asked.

Scmidt also said the grants fail to help the large percentage of women who would never go to the abortion business for legitimate health care.

“Why is Komen’s giving to the largest abortion provider in the United States. Millions of pro-life women do not feel comfortable going to an abortion clinic to get non-abortion services,” he concludes. “Why not give the funds to a non-controversial community health center that all women in the community feel comfortable visiting?”

Thanks very much for writing to share your concern with us. Recent questions have arisen regarding a limited number of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® community grants to Planned Parenthood breast health programs, specifically those designed to provide screening mammograms for vulnerable populations, e.g., low-income and uninsured women.

Currently, 19 Komen for the Cure Affiliates award 19 local grants specifically to Planned Parenthood-sponsored programs in their communities to pay for breast cancer education and breast screenings.

When a mammogram is indicated, a patient is often referred to a local program, such as the state’s breast and cervical cancer program. In other cases, the Komen Affiliate’s grant to Planned Parenthood may include funds to pay for mammograms outright. When this happens, a local provider performs the mammogram, and is then reimbursed by Planned Parenthood using the Komen grant funds.

During the past five years, these grants have paid for the following education and screenings:

· Breast cancer and breast health education for nearly 160,000 women

· Clinical breast exams for more than 139,000 women

· 4,866 mammograms

· Detection of 177 breast cancers

Overall, Komen Affiliates provide funding for 2,000 community programs that provide screenings, education and financial and social support to women and their families. This funding is based on a thorough assessment of the breast health and support programs available in an Affiliate’s service area.

The limited number of Komen Affiliates that fund Planned Parenthood breast programs do so after this same thorough assessment; the funds are then reviewed twice-yearly to ensure that they are being used only for their intended breast health programs.

We know breast health education and early detection programs, particularly among vulnerable populations, are essential to reduce mortality from breast cancer. Indeed, today’s five-year survival rate is 98 percent for breast cancers caught early, before they’ve spread from the breast.

We hope this information helps to clear up any misinformation that you may have heard.